Adaptor for adding a second power supply unit to a computer system

ABSTRACT

An adaptor for detachable connection with a first power supply unit (PSU) and a second PSU to augment the power delivered to a computer system is described. The adaptor may include a power connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the first PSU, a motherboard connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the second PSU, and a circuit between the power connector and the motherboard connector. The circuit may comprise a switch, and the circuit can be configured to, in response to an energization of the first PSU by the computer system, automatically close the switch and pass a signal through the closed switch and the motherboard connector for receipt by the second PSU for causing the second PSU to turn on to thereby augment the computer system with power from the second PSU.

CROSS-REFERENCE AND PRIORITY CLAIM TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/092,874, filed Apr. 22, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,878,390,the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The present application relates to a computer power supply unit, andmore particularly to an adaptor that allows a power supply unit be addedto a computer as a plug-and-play device to provide extra power supplyfor the computer and its other plug-and-play devices.

Note that the points discussed below may reflect the hindsight gainedfrom the disclosed inventions, and are not necessarily admitted to beprior art.

A power supply unit (PSU) of a computer is the component that suppliespower to the other components by converting general-purpose alternatingcurrent electric power to computer usable low-voltage direct current(DC) for other components of the computer. The most common computerpower supplies are built to conform with Advanced Technology eXtended(ATX) form factors. ATX power supplies usually are designed to turn onand off using a signal from the motherboard, and provide support forstandby mode.

A conventional computer PSU is a square metal box having a large bundleof wires for connectors emerging from one end; on the other end is aconnector for AC power. Many attempts have been made to add more thanone PSU to a computer for added processing tasks and applications. Butthe control and management of the multiple PSUs remains to be acomplicated task. For example, the US patent application US 2011/0068625A1 introduces a dual electrical input line with an automatic transferswitch mechanism to manage multiple PSUs. US 2010/0064150 A1 discloses adesign of baseboard management controllers for processing informationand to control the plurality of PSUs.

Nevertheless the need to simply add a PSU to a pre-set computer foradditional plug and play devices has not been addressed.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses a simple and novel plug-and-playadaptor (Add2Psu) that allows additional PSUs to be added in aplug-and-play manner.

For example, the present application discloses an apparatus foraugmenting power delivered to a computer system, the apparatuscomprising an adaptor for detachable connection with a first powersupply unit (PSU) and a second PSU, the adaptor comprising: (1) a powerconnector configured for detachable connection with a complementaryconnector of the first PSU, (2) a motherboard connector configured fordetachable connection with a complementary connector of the second PSU,and (3) a circuit between the power connector and the motherboardconnector, the circuit comprising a switch, and wherein the circuit isconfigured to, in response to an energization of the first PSU by thecomputer system, automatically close the switch and pass a signalthrough the closed switch and the motherboard connector for receipt bythe second PSU for causing the second PSU to turn on to thereby augmentthe computer system with power from the second PSU.

The present application also discloses an apparatus for augmenting powerdelivered to a computer system, the apparatus comprising an adaptor fordetachable connection with a first power supply unit (PSU) and a secondPSU, the adaptor comprising: (1) a 4-pin connector that conforms to aPSU power connector standard, the 4-pin connector configured fordetachable connection with a complementary connector of the first PSU,(2) a 24-pin connector that conforms to an Advanced Technology eXtended(ATX) standard for a PSU, the 24-pin connector configured for detachableconnection with a complementary connector of the second PSU, and (3) acircuit between the 4-pin connector and the 24-pin connector, thecircuit comprising a switch, and wherein the circuit is configured to,in response to an energization of the first PSU by the computer system,automatically close the switch and pass a signal through the closedswitch and the 24-pin connector for receipt by the second PSU forcausing the second PSU to turn on to thereby augment the computer systemwith power from the second PSU.

The present application further discloses a method comprising: (1)connecting a first power supply unit (PSU) with an adaptor, the firstPSU comprising (i) a first PSU motherboard connector connected to acomputer system, and (ii) a first PSU power connector, the adaptorcomprising (i) an adaptor power connector, and (ii) an adaptormotherboard connector, wherein the step of connecting the first PSU withthe adaptor comprises connecting the first PSU power connector with theadaptor power connector, (2) connecting a second PSU with the adaptor,the second PSU comprising a second PSU motherboard connector, whereinthe step of connecting the second PSU with the adaptor comprisesconnecting the second PSU motherboard connector with the adaptormotherboard connector, and (3) in response to the connecting steps,automatically (i) energizing the adaptor with power from the first PSU,(ii) closing a switch in the adaptor in response to the energizing ofthe adaptor, (iii) communicating a signal from the adaptor to the secondPSU in response to the switch closing, and (iv) turning on the secondPSU in response to the communicated signal, the turned on second PSUthus being available to provide additional power to the computer system.

In one embodiment, an example Add2Psu PSU adaptor includes at least oneATX connection and a DC relay.

In another embodiment, an example Add2Psu PSU adaptor comprises aprinted circuit board disposed with a 4-pin connector, a 24-pinconnector and a 12 VDC relay.

In another embodiment, an example Add2Psu PSU includes a relay, an ATXconnector and a built-in PSU as a power source.

The disclosed innovation, in various embodiments, provides a simplemechanism to add a PSU in a plug-and-play manner. The adaptor can betreated as an independent unit that can be mounted or loosely placedanywhere inside a computer. A PSU can plug into the adaptor and becontrolled by the signals from the motherboard and conform to the ATXform factors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of theinvention and which are incorporated in the specification hereof byreference, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example Add2Psu PSU adaptoroperation mechanism in accordance with this application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the plug-and-play mechanism of anexample Add2Psu PSU adaptor in a computer system.

FIG. 3 is an example structure of an Add2Psu PSU adaptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to presently preferred embodiments(by way of example, and not of limitation). The present applicationdescribes several embodiments, and none of the statements below shouldbe taken as limiting the claims generally.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and description anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in thedrawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, some areas orelements may be expanded to help improve understanding of embodiments ofthe invention.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and the claims, if any, may be used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,”“include,” “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to covernon-exclusive inclusions, such that a process, method, article,apparatus, or composition that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elementsnot expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article,apparatus, or composition.

It is contemplated and intended that the design apply to other PSUconnection protocols, for example the AT standard, but for clarityreasons, the ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended) PSU standard is observedand used as an example.

A standard PSU includes a PC Main power connector that goes to themotherboard to provide it with power. The connector has 20 or 24 pins.One of the pins belongs to the PS-ON wire. A power supply with a 24-pinconnector can be used on a motherboard with a 20-pin connector. In caseswhere the motherboard has a 24-pin connector, some power supplies comewith two connectors, one with 20-pin and other with 4-pin) which can beused together to form the 24-pin connector.

A standard PSU also includes plurality of various 4-pin peripheral powerconnectors that go to the various disk drives, PCI cards, floppy driveor video cards of a computer.

A standard PSU may also include other auxiliary power connectors withvarious numbers of pins.

To conform to a standard PSU, an example Add2Psu generally comprises a24-pin connector and/or a 4-pin connector so that a PSU may be pluggedon to the adaptor via its 24-pin connector or one of its 4-pinconnectors.

In reference to FIG. 1, PSU1 101 and PSU2 105 are connected with anAdd2Psu adaptor 111 which includes a DC Relay 103. The 4-pin connectorof Adaptor 111 plugs in with the 4-pin power connector of PSU1 101 andthe ATX 24-pin connector of Adaptor 111 is connected with the 24-pinpower connector of PSU2 105. The 24-pin power connector of PSU1 101 isconnected with the motherboard of the computer.

When PSU1 101 is turned on by signal from the motherboard, the energycauses Relay 103 to close the circuit that sends signal through the ATX24-pin of Adaptor 111 to PSU2 105 and turns on the PSU2 105. ThereforePSU2 works in the same manner as PSU1.

FIG. 2 illustrates the cascade scalability of an Add2Psu PSU adaptor.First PSU 201 and second PSU 205 are connected through Add2Psu adaptor203 which provides an ATX connection to PSU 205. One of the 4-pinconnectors of PSU 205 can be connected to another Add2Psu 209 whichprovides another ATX connection for another PSU, and the process can goon to add unlimited number of PSUs to the computer system. Signals fromMotherboard 211 therefore controls all the PSUs in the same manner. Moreindependent devices can be connected to the computer with their ownpower supply in a plug-and-play manner via the power connectors 207, 209etc.

In reference to FIG. 3, an example Add2Psu PSU adaptor includes an ATX24-pin connector 313, a 4-pin connector 315, and a DC relay 311, whichare disposed on a Printed Circuit Board 317 that conforms with the ATXstandard of a PSU. Alternatively, the 4-pin connector may be omitted andthe source of power for the adaptor may come from a slave power supplyof the computer that is hosting the adaptor.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovativeconcepts described in the present application can be modified and variedover a tremendous range of applications, and accordingly the scope ofpatented subject matter is not limited by any of the specific exemplaryteachings given. It is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

None of the description in the present application should be read asimplying that any particular element, step, or function is an essentialelement which must be included in the claim scope: THE SCOPE OF PATENTEDSUBJECT MATTER IS DEFINED ONLY BY THE ALLOWED CLAIMS. Moreover, none ofthese claims are intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC section 112unless the exact words “means for” are followed by a participle.

The claims as filed are intended to be as comprehensive as possible, andNO subject matter is intentionally relinquished, dedicated, orabandoned.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for augmenting power delivered to a computer system, the apparatus comprising: an adaptor for detachable connection with a first power supply unit (PSU) and a second PSU, the adaptor comprising: a power connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the first PSU; a motherboard connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the second PSU; and a circuit between the power connector and the motherboard connector, the circuit comprising a switch, and wherein the circuit is configured to, in response to an energization of the first PSU by the computer system, automatically close the switch and pass a signal through the closed switch and the motherboard connector for receipt by the second PSU for causing the second PSU to turn on to thereby augment the computer system with power from the second PSU.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adaptor's motherboard connector conforms to an Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX) standard for a PSU.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the adaptor's motherboard connector is a 24-pin connector conforming to the ATX standard.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the adaptor's power connector conforms to a PSU power connector standard.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the adaptor's power connector is a 4-pin power connector configured for detachable connection with a standardized peripheral connector of the first PSU.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adaptor further comprises a printed circuit board, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the circuit are disposed on the printed circuit board, and wherein the printed circuit board is configured to be mountable to a surface of the computer system.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a relay circuit.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the relay circuit is a DC relay circuit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the DC relay circuit is a 12 VDC relay circuit.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the adaptor's power connector is a standardized 4-pin connector, and wherein the adaptor's motherboard connector is a standardized 24-pin connector.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the standardized 24-pin connector conforms to an Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX) standard for a PSU.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the first PSU, the first PSU comprising a motherboard connector and a power connector; and the second PSU, the second PSU comprising a motherboard connector and a power connector; wherein the first PSU is connected to the adaptor via a detachable connection between the first PSU's power connector and the adaptor's power connector; and wherein the second PSU is connected to the adaptor via a detachable connection between the second PSU's motherboard connector and the adaptor's motherboard connector.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: the computer system; wherein the first PSU is configured to connect with the computer system via the first PSU motherboard connector to provide the computer system with power; wherein the computer system is configured to provide a signal to the first PSU to turn on and energize the first PSU.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adaptor is a first adaptor, the system further comprising: a third PSU, the third PSU comprising a motherboard connector and a power connector; and a second adaptor, the second adaptor comprising a power connector, a motherboard connector, and a circuit, wherein the second adaptor's power connector is configured for detachable connection with a complementary power connector of the second PSU, wherein the second adaptor's motherboard connector is configured for detachable connection with a complementary motherboard connector of the third PSU, wherein the second adaptor's circuit is between the second adaptor's power connector and the second adaptor's motherboard connector, the second adaptor's circuit comprising a switch, and wherein the second adaptor's circuit is configured to, in response to an energization of the second PSU, automatically close the second adaptor's switch and pass a signal through the second adaptor's closed switch and the second adaptor's motherboard connector for receipt by the third PSU for causing the third PSU to turn on to thereby augment the computer system with power from the third PSU.
 15. An apparatus for augmenting power delivered to a computer system, the apparatus comprising: an adaptor for detachable connection with a first power supply unit (PSU) and a second PSU, the adaptor comprising: a 4-pin connector that conforms to a PSU power connector standard, the 4-pin connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the first PSU; a 24-pin connector that conforms to an Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX) standard for a PSU, the 24-pin connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the second PSU; and a circuit between the 4-pin connector and the 24-pin connector, the circuit comprising a switch, and wherein the circuit is configured to, in response to an energization of the first PSU by the computer system, automatically close the switch and pass a signal through the closed switch and the 24-pin connector for receipt by the second PSU for causing the second PSU to turn on to thereby augment the computer system with power from the second PSU.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the adaptor further comprises a printed circuit board, wherein the 4-pin connector, the 24-pin connector, and the circuit are disposed on the printed circuit board.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to be mountable to a surface of the computer system.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the circuit comprises a relay circuit.
 19. A method comprising: connecting a first power supply unit (PSU) with an adaptor, the first PSU comprising (1) a first PSU motherboard connector connected to a computer system, and (2) a first PSU power connector, the adaptor comprising (1) an adaptor power connector, and (2) an adaptor motherboard connector, wherein the step of connecting the first PSU with the adaptor comprises connecting the first PSU power connector with the adaptor power connector; connecting a second PSU with the adaptor, the second PSU comprising a second PSU motherboard connector, wherein the step of connecting the second PSU with the adaptor comprises connecting the second PSU motherboard connector with the adaptor motherboard connector; in response to the connecting steps, automatically (1) energizing the adaptor with power from the first PSU, (2) closing a switch in the adaptor in response to the energizing of the adaptor, (3) communicating a signal from the adaptor to the second PSU in response to the switch closing, and (4) turning on the second PSU in response to the communicated signal, the turned on second PSU thus being available to provide additional power to the computer system.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the adaptor power connector conforms to a power connector standard for a PSU, and wherein the adaptor motherboard connector conforms to an Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX) standard for a PSU. 